In order to prepare for her role as a domestic violence survivor in the cinema drama Safe Haven, actress/dancer Julianne Hough had to confront some pretty heavy childhood demons. In a new interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, the screen darling speaks frankly about the abuse she suffered while pursuing a dancing career in London.

The former Dancing with the Stars champ, 24, told Cosmo:

“I was 10 years old looking like I was 28, being a very sensual dancer. I was a tormented little kid who had to put on this sexy façade because that was my job and my life. But my heart was the same and I was this innocent little girl. I wanted so much love.”

She added:

“While I was in London, I was abused, mentally, physically, everything.”

Hough says things escalated once she hit puberty.

“When I started hitting puberty, when I started becoming a woman and stopped being a little girl. I was told if I ever went back to the United States, three things were going to happen. One: I was going to amount to nothing. Two: I was going to work at Whataburger. And three: I was going to end up a slut. So it was like, I can’t go back, I have to be this person.”

At 15, Julianne saw one of her idols perform, which gave her the courage to leave:

“I was like, f**k that. I know who I am, and I don’t want to be this person who I am becoming.”

Hough ended up fleeing London just two days later. When asked why she never told her parents about the abuse, Julianne replied:

“I’d rather take the pressure on myself…I’m a very forgiving person, and I don’t want to hurt anybody. What’s past is past.”

Safe Haven, in theaters Feb. 14, follows a woman (Hough) who survives an abusive relationship and accepts the love of a widower, played by Josh Duhamel.

In addition to juggling her budding career on screen, Julianne’s other full-time job is that of leading lady to TV personality Ryan Seacrest. She says they work to find time for each other.

“We love what we do. We take pride in giving it our all, but then when we’re alone, we really focus in on going to dinners and being extra-romantic and affectionate and just being there for each other.”

Written by Castina on January 2nd, 2013 | Tagged as: Julianne Hough